Practice device



Oct. 1, 1963 KIMBRELL 3,105,683

PRACTICE DEVICE Filed Aug. 10, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WWW United States Patent 3,165,683 PRACTICE DEVICE Hershel E. Kimbrell, 1133 S. Jefferson, Abilene, Tex. Filed Aug. 10, 1962, Ser. No. 216,148 Claims. (Cl. 273-1.5)

This invention relates to a practice device and more particularly to a device for practicing the game of basketball, volleyball, or the like.

An important object of the invention is the provision of a device adapted to be positioned interiorly of a conventional basketball ring which will cause a basketball or the like tossed through the ring to be ejected out of the ring in a wide variety of directions, speeds, and times.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of such a device which, when a basketball is thrown through the ring, will eject the ball in a random manner with each ejection differing in accordance with the particular position of the ejecting apparatus at the time the ball falls through the ring.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device which is particularly adaptable for basketball players in tipping the ball, rebounding of the ball, which increases the dexterity of the fingers, catching the ball, passing the ball after rebounding, jumping or spring, timing, body and arm position, endurance and coordination of the individual, thus to improve the all around play of an individual athlete.

A further and more specific object of the invention is the provision of a device adapted to be mounted within a conventional b asketball ring which includes a plurality of rotating fingers, which may be rotated at any desired speed, and which are actuated by means of a cam or other suitable mechanism periodically to lift and eject a ball tossed interiorly of the ring, the position of the ball in the ring, and the position of the rotating mechanism determining thev direction, time, and distance of ejection of a ball.

Still other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and teatures of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawings wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of the instant inventive concept.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of one form of device embodying the instant inventive concept shown in position interiorly of a conventional basketball ring.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the structure of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of FIGURE 2 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows, parts thereof being broken away.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of FIGURE 3 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of FIGURE 4 as viewed in the direction in dicated by the arrows showing the cam structure of the device.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Having reference now to the drawings in detail, the device of the instant invention is generally indicated at 10, and includes a housing 11 which includes a base plate 12. Housing 11 is adapted to be supported by means 'of a plurality of radially extending fingers or straps 13 which are provided at their extremities with hooks 14 engageable over a conventional basketball ring 15. Ring 15 is supported by a bracket 16 and diagonal braces 17 from a board 18 or the like. Resilient retaining "ice 2 clips 19 may be provided adjacent each hook 14, if desired.

A flange 20 depends from base 12, and has secured thereto as by means of bolts 21 a reduction gear box 22 from which projects a vertical drive shaft 23, shaft 23 being driven by a fractional horsepower motor 24 which is supplied with power through an electrical cord 25.

Drive shaft 23 extends into a bore 26 in a shaft 27 which is formed with a shoulder 28 upon which seats the inner race 29 of a bearing assembly generally indicated at 30, and including balls 31, which engage between inner race 29 and an outer race 32 which is fixedly secured in a central opening in base 12. A set screw 33 serves to secure shaft 23 within bore 26.

A reduced portion 34 of shaft 27 terminates in a shoulder 35 upon which rests a cam 36 having an inclined high dwell portion 37, as best shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. Cam 36 surrounds a further reduced portion 38 of shaft 27 which portion merges into a tapered frustoconical end 39 terminating in a shaft stem 40 to which is secured the inner .race 41 of a bearing assembly generally indicated at 42 and provided with balls 43. The outer race 44 of bearing assembly 42 is fixedly secured to a hub 45 comprising an integral part of housing 11, and provided with radially extending pairs of lugs 46, the ends of lugs 46 being secured to the wall of casing 11 as by means of bolts 47.

Pivotally secured between each pair of lugs 46 is a block member 50 comprising the end of an arcuate ball propelling arm 51, the arm being reinforced by means of an angularly disposed reinforcing bracket 52. The pivotal supporting means comprises a pivot pin 54 extending through a suitable bore 55 in each block 50, and aligned bores 56 in each of lugs 46. A set screw 57 serves to hold each block 50 and its associated arm 51 in rigid relation with the pivot pin 5 4.

The lower portion of each block 50 is provided with an integral cylindrical stud 60 having a threaded bore 61 therein which is surrounded by the inner race 62 of a ball bearing assembly generally indicated at 63. The outer race 64 encloses ball 65 and engages at its inner extremity the surface of rotatable cam 36. The head 66 of a screw 67 engaging in threaded bore 61 serves to secure the bearing assembly in position.

The outer portions of blocks 50 and the radially extending arms 51 extend through keyhole slots 70 in the side walls of casing 11, and project outwardly to a point interiorly of the bottom of the ring.

A cap 71 is secured as by means of screws 72 engaging in threaded bores 73 in hub structure 45, and provides protection for the assembly.

From the foregoing the use and operation of the device should now be readily understandable. The apparatus 10 is first positioned interiorly of the ring 15 and supported therefrom by means of the hooks 14. Cord 25 is then plugged into any suitable socket, and, the motor 24 is started in any desired manner as by the use of a conventional switch, or, alternatively, merely by plugging the cord into an electrical outlet.

Actuation of the motor 24 causes rotation of shaft 23 and hence shaft 27 which in turn rotates cam 36, shaft 27 rotating in the bearing assemblies 30 and 42. As cam 36 rotates its high dwell 37 progressively engages one of the bearing assemblies 63 to tilt the associated block in its associated arm 51 rapidly upwardly as shown in FIG- URE 2. The arms are thus successively raised, and a ball tossed through the ring 15 striking the cover 71 or one of the arms 51 will remain quiescent, for an indeterminate period until the arm in contact therewith is raised by the high dwell 37 of the cam. The duration of time before the ball is impacted to be ejected from the ring is determined by the relative position of the cam 36, and

the angle at which the ball is ejected in turn depends on its position in relation to the arcuate arm 51, whether in the concave portion thereof or adjacent the tip or inner end. Since the shaft 23 rotates relatively rapidly, the time interval is limited and the probability is that the ball is still in motion when the arm adjacent which it is at the time is lifted. In consequence the path of ejection of the ball, of a distance, and the angle may not be determined in advance. As the ball is ejected the player may tip the same back into the ring, catch the ball, pivot and throw, driving (the ball or any other activity normally associated with the ball rebounding from the rim of a basket.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved practice device, which accomplishes all the objects of this invention, including others of great practical utility.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A basketball practice device comprising a casing, means adapted to support said casing from a conventional basketball ring, an electric motor associated with said casing, a drive shaft driven by said motor, a shaft rotatable in said casing connected to said drive shaft, a plurality of radial-1y extending arms pivotally mounted for movement in a vertical plane in said casing, said casing having slots therein through which said arms extend, and a cam in said casing rotated by said shaft in said casing to impart sequential vertical movement to said arms to eject a ball dropped through the ring.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said casing includes a base having an opening therein and a bearing in said opening in which said shaft in said casing is journalled, a hub having a central opening therein in which the top of said shaft in said casing is journalled, and a plurality of pairs of radially extending lugs, an arm being pivoted between each pair.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein each arm has a block integrally for-med therewith, the pivotal mounting of the arms extending through the block, and each block includes a depending circular boss having the inner race of a bearing assembly fixedly secured thereto, the outer race being rotatable and engaged by said cam.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said casing is provided with a cover fixed to said hub.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein the means adapted to support said casing from the ring comprise a plurality of radially extending arcuate fingers, each finger having a hook on the end thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,032,336 Johnson July 9, 1912 2,808,264 Seal-t Oct. 1, 1957 3,059,929 Licitis Oct. 23, 1962 

1. A BASKETBALL PRACTICE DEVICE COMPRISING A CASING MEANS ADAPTED TO SUPPORT SAID CASING FROM A COMVENTIONAL BASKETBALL RING, AN ELECTRIC MOTOR ASSOCIATED WITH SAID CASING, A DRIVE SHAFT DRIVEN BY SAID MOTOR, A SHAFT ROTATABLE IN SAID CASING CONNECTED TO SAID DRIVE SHAFT, A PLURALITY OF RADIALLY EXTENDING ARMS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT IN A VERTICAL PLANE IN SAID CASING, SAID CASING HAVING SLOTS THEREIN THROUGH WHICH SAID ARMS EXTEND, AND A CAM IN SAID CASING ROTATED BY SAID SHAFT IN SAID CASING TO IMPART SEQUENTIAL VERTICAL MOVEMENT TO SAID ARMS TO EJECT A BALL DROPPED THROUGH THE RING. 